Martin O'Neill admits he has been forced to scrub Jota from his Celtic plans, despite the crocked winger finally making his way back to Lennoxtown. The Portuguese ace has not kicked a ball since suffering a career-threatening ACL injury at Tannadice in April last year, ruling him out for the whole of last season.
Jota, 27, has spent the past year stepping up his rehab in Lisbon and is finally due to report back to the club's training base on Monday. But O'Neill insists the £8million star remains some way off a first-team return and says he has no option but to put him to the back of his mind for now.
O'Neill: 'Being back and being fit are two different things'
Speaking from Celtic's training camp in the Algarve, O'Neill said: "He's back with us on Monday week. But being back and being fit are two different things. I might be being conservative, it could be Halloween, but we will have a better idea."
"Remember, he's been doing this work in his hometown, and he's back here with us on Monday week. So the sooner we get him on the field, the better. He should be out on the grass, yes. I think he is doing a little bit. Again, out on the grass and doing straight-line running for a cruciate, which I know myself because I did it, is different to doing twists and turns and stuff like this here. But he's been out a long time, and I think he feels as if it's doing fine."
Return timeline: Halloween or later
O'Neill previously suggested Jota could be back in action by the end of October. He said: "Until he's really nearly fit to play, I'm sorry, you just have to dismiss him in that sense. I can't keep thinking every single day 'when is he going to be playing.' I have already dismissed him until Halloween perhaps. But who knows how people come back. I'm sorry, it's rather cruel but you say you just have to leave it, he's not involved. I can't worry about something that might be three months down the line."
O'Neill confirmed Jota would be back in Glasgow permanently and has kept in touch with the fans' favourite. He said: "I have, yeah, spoken to him a few times, absolutely. We've done a little Zoom call there just last week, about ten days ago or something."
Iheanacho contract offer and Engels speculation
Meanwhile, O'Neill insists the ball is firmly in Kelechi Iheanacho's court after Celtic tabled a new contract offer to the title hero. The Hoops boss is keen to tie down the free agent striker and said: "There's an offer there to him at this minute. So we'll see how that develops."
Reports in Belgium claimed Nottingham Forest have officially reignited their interest in Arne Engels after seeing a £25m bid knocked back in January. But O'Neill insisted he was unaware of any fresh approach. He said: "No, I haven't heard that. I would have heard that by now. It's not to say that there might be, but I don't know."
Pre-season clash and Duran illness
Celtic round off their week-long training camp in Portugal with a pre-season clash against Sporting Lisbon tonight. But fans may have to wait a little longer to see new £6m signing Camilo Duran after the Colombian striker was laid low by illness. O'Neill added: "He didn't train today because he was ill. So we'll see how he is."
